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Article Review: The Experience Of Westchester County, New York

1367 Words6 Pages

Dylan Smead
Reading Review #3
HIS306

The American War of Independence was a complex conflict that took place across various regions of the United States, with each area experiencing unique challenges and impacts. The war took place between 1775 and 1783, was fought between the thirteen British colonies in North America and Great Britain. Sung Bok Kim's article, "The Limits of Politicization in the American Revolution: The Experience of Westchester County, New York," illustrates and navigates the experiences of Westchester County, New York, during the war. Kim shows the experiences of the Loyalists and Patriots, the behavior of armed forces, the impact on ordinary people, and the uniqueness of the county's experience. Kim also takes a …show more content…

As the conflict continued, individuals started to take sides as Loyalists and Patriots. The Whigs or Patriots were mostly middle-class farmers who were dissatisfied with British rule and who had been inspired by revolutionary ideas from Boston and Philadelphia. Additionally, the Whigs found support from groups such as tenant farmers, laborers, and artisans, who had grievances against the wealthy elite. The Loyalists were a significant force in the early part of the conflict in Westchester County. The County had a diverse population, and Loyalist sentiments were strong among the wealthy elite, who had close economic ties with Great Britain. As the conflict intensified, individuals were forced to take sides, and the population of Westchester County became increasingly politicized. Many individuals who had initially supported the Crown became Whigs, while others became Tories. According to Kim, this process was not straightforward, and many individuals resisted politicization. However, many Loyalists were forced to flee or were persecuted, and the majority of the population became Whigs or …show more content…

They fled their homes, faced destruction of property, and suffered economically due to the war. Kim stated, “the town of Peekskill, consisting of about sixty houses, was d its inhabitants because soldiers had wasted their enclosures, rendering the land unfit for livestock farming.” Furthermore, agriculture was interrupted by the war and its destruction leading to famine amongst civilians. Some refugees tried to seek refuge within other areas in New York. The civilians for the first time had encountered an extremely violent encounter with soldiers due to the Revolutionary

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